David Davis demanded the RAF fly him to Brexit negotiations

LONDON — David Davis demanded an RAF plane to take him to Brexit
negotiations across Europe, but was repeatedly blocked by his
most senior civil servant.

The Brexit secretary fell out with Oliver Robbins, the former
permanent secretary in the Department for Exiting the European
Union, after he blocked Davis's request to use the RAF,
The Times reported.

Davis appealed to No 10 and Theresa May's chief of staff in order
to get his way and has since used RAF planes to travel to
Brussels and other parts of Europe to fulfil his role as Brexit
secretary.

Robbins resigned as permanent secretary at DExEU in September to
focus on a job as Brexit co-ordinator in Downing Street and
is thought to be close to the prime minister.

He is effectively the UK's chief negotiator in Brexit talks, and
there is reportedly a
"schism" between Robbins and Davis over how to approach
negotiations, and the Brexit secretary feels marginalised in the
process.

Robbins is highly thought of in Brussels, with an EU source
saying that he was "doing his best" despite the circumstances the
UK negotiating team find themselves in.

A source close to Davis told The Times that the story was based
on "gossip rather than fact."

The account was revealed by the Sunday Times editor Tim Shipman
in his new book about politics in 2017: "Fall Out."